USA Men’s Selects Names Roster For APC Opener Against Tonga A –...

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Men’s Selects name starting roster to face Tonga A in Americas Pacific Challenge 2018 opener
Former Junior and Collegiate All-American Connor Kearns to serve as Captain

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – Men’s Selects’ Head Coach Scott Lawrence has named his matchday 23 to face Tonga A this Saturday at 12:30 PM ET in the opening match of the Americas Pacific Challenge (APC) 2018, LIVE on FloRugby.

The full team will consist of 11 capped Men’s Eagles, 10 returners from the 2017 tournament, three 2018 First Team Men’s Collegiate All-Americans and three recent collegiate or professional rugby champions.

The developmental tournament will feature six teams all gunning heavily to expose new waves of players to international competition ahead of Rugby World Cup Japan 2019. With less than one year until the World Cup and just weeks from final selections for the November Internationals, athletes from all sides will be heavily focused on delivering standout performances.

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“We’ve had a focused few days together and it’s been encouraging to see the men self-organize. We know tomorrow’s match with Tonga A will be well-contested and are looking forward to putting the week’s hard work into action,” said Head Coach Scott Lawrence.

Leading the team as Captain is San Diego Legion‘s Connor Kearns who will make his first-ever appearance with the Men’s Selects. Kearns is no stranger to the USA Rugby pathway having earned All-American honors at both the Junior and Collegiate levels in 2013 and 2016, respectively. His experience competing at the professional level with Major League Rugby coupled with his international appearances from previous All-American tours will undoubtedly be a benefit to the entire playing group.

Kearns is joined by 2018 Collegiate All-Americans Chance Wenglewski, Alex Maughan and Mitch Wilson. Maughan and Wilson both own 2018 D1A National Championships with Life University and played in the 2017 tournament.

Capped Eagle Psalm Wooching will feature on Saturday after last joining the Men’s National Team for the Americas Rugby Championship 2018. Wooching’s APC appearance is a valuable stepping stone for his return to the senior international stage, having spent the last several months recovering from injury.

Men’s Eagle Angus Mclellan also joins the Selects after Olive Kilifi was held out of consideration due to injury. Maclellan appeared at both the 2016 and 2017 iterations of the APC.

The Men’s Selects finished last year’s tournament in second-place while Tonga A came in third. After Saturday, the Selects will face Uruguay XV on Oct. 10 before closing out the Americas Pacific Challenge 2018 with reigning champion Argentina XV on Oct. 14. All three games will kickoff at 12:30 PM ET and be streamed LIVE on FloRugby.

Men’s Selects Starting Roster

Player Name	Position	Current Club	Notes
1. Chance Wenglewski	Prop	Lindenwood University	• 2018 First Team Collegiate All-American • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
2. Alex Maughan	Hooker	Life University	• 2018 First Team Collegiate All-American • 2018 D1A National Champion • Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
3. John Hayden	Prop	Unattached	–
4. Nate Brakeley	Lock	New York Athletic/ Rugby United New York	• Capped Men’s Eagle
5. Taylor Krumrei	Lock	Seattle Seawolves	• 2018 Major League Rugby Champion
6. Psalm Wooching	Flanker	Unattached	• Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
7. Hanco Germishuys	Flanker	Austin Elite	• Capped Men’s Eagle
8. Brendan Daly	No. 8	San Francisco Golden Gate	• Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
9. Nick Boyer	Scrumhalf	San Diego Legion	• Has appeared on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
10. Connor Kearns (C)	Flyhalf	San Diego Legion	–
11. Mika Kruse	Wing	Glendale Raptors	–
12. Anthony Salaber	Center	San Diego Legion	–
13. Dylan Audsley	Center	San Diego Legion	• Capped Men’s Eagle
14. Tim Maupin	Wing	NOLA Gold	• Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
15. Mitch Wilson	Fullback	Life University	• 2018 First Team Collegiate All-American • 2018 D1A National Champion • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge

Men’s Selects Reserves

Player	Position	Current Club	Notes
16. Pat O’Toole	Reserve	San Diego Legion	–
17. Kelepi Fifita	Reserve	Glendale Raptors	• 2017 America’s Pacific Challenge
18. Angus Mclellan	Reserve	Utah Warriors	• Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
19. Matt Jensen	Reserve	Utah Warriors	• Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
20. Vili Toluta’u	Reserve	Seattle Seawolves	• 2018 Major League Rugby Champion
21. Devereaux Ferris	Reserve	Life West Gladiators	–
22. JP Eloff	Reserve	NOLA Gold	• Capped Men’s Eagle • 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
23. Ryan Matyas	Reserve	San Diego Legion	• Capped Men’s Eagle